26-year old Di Gennaro, a product of AC Milan's youth system, spent last season with Palermo, helping them to promotion from Serie B.

The midfielder, who usually features in an attacking role, played 14 times for Rosanero last season, netting twice, and his exploits in the Italian second division have drawn interest from Leeds United president Massimo Cellino, as reported by tuttomercatoweb.

The former Milan youth prospect, who captained their Under-20 squad, and made his first-team debut at the age of 18, would become the ninth player to arrive at Elland Road from Italy this summer. Marco Silvestri, Tommaso Bianchi and Gaetano Berardi arrived on permanent transfers, whilst Souleymane Doukara, Zan Benedicic and Giuseppe Bellusci all signed one-year loans with the Yorkshire-based club.

Brazilian youth international Adryan is set to arrive from Cellino's former club Cagliari, and forward Mirko Antenucci is in talks with the club to transfer from Ternana.

As well as Milan and Palermo, Di Gennaro has turned out for Bologna, Genoa, Reggina, Livorno, Padova and Modena on loan, before a one-year spell with Spezia. He has played 156 competitive league fixtures in his career, and has netted 28 goals, as well as appearing for Italy at every youth level from Under-16 to Under-21 - with whom he made five appearances.

If the Whites can secure the signing of Di Gennaro, it is likely that he will slot into the midfield alongside his kinsman Bianchi, who has made two Championship appearances for Dave Hockaday's men since his arrival from Italy.

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Billy Hawkins

Billy is a freelance writer who contributes to various sites concerning football. Known to possess an obsession with statistics, Eastern European club sides, and Victorian football, he focuses upon the untapped potential of the Football League in the belief it is more enjoyable than the Premier League.